Pages

Thursday, 27 July 2017

As we are half way through the year its timely to remind families about home learning. Research
has shown that learning conversations between parents and children
reinforces school learning.That’s
why our teachers send you a link each week to the learning intentions on
the Teaching and Learning site.These are the main learning intentions for the week and the link allows
you to open a conversation with your child about what they are learning.Each time they reconsider
it, it deepens the connection and embeds the learning.Repetition makes it stick.

Class teachers also send you a link to
the class blog – this gives you an idea of what has been done in class and
again offers the opportunity for a learning conversation.

Year 6s Gospel Presentation today

Low Key Family Learning Hui – Friday 28th 2pm, Staffroom - Maths

I would like to invite interested whanau to catch up with me at 2pm on Friday to talk about how
you can help your child learn basic maths facts at home.This is an informal catchup and I’ll show you some
simple things you can do with a pack of cards to reinforce maths learning at
any level.

Literacy
Learning Difficulties

For any families who have children
diagnosed with dyslexia or suspected dyslexia, I have a program that may be
able to help.We did this a few years
ago and the children on the program made big steps forwards with their
reading.This will be on Monday 31st July at 3pm in
the staffroom for about 30 minutes and you can bring your child.

Keeping
Ourselves Safe and Classes for 2018

On Tuesday
1 August at 6.30pm, we are having a sharing session on “Keeping Ourselves
Safe.”This is a program designed by NZ
Police and run in schools.We run this program within the perspective of our Catholic
Special Character.Parents are warmly
encouraged to come along and find out more about it.

Before
that at 6.00pm our senior leadership team will be in
the staffroom to discuss potential class compositions for the years 3 to 6
classes in 2018.

We are saddened to lose two of our trustees Bruce Wickham and Chris
Heaphy who have resigned from the BOT due to responsibilities and loyalties
elsewhere. We thank them for their integrity, their honest and enthusiastic
voice, the contributions they made as BOT members and the continued commitment
they have to our school.

These resignations leave places for two new parent trustees
which will be filled by election. The timeline dates are yet to be confirmed
but I will keep you informed.

I hope that every parent will consider making himself or herself
available. You do not need to have any specific skills but there is a time
commitment to prepare forand attend meetings. There will be training
available but I know all of our members are happy to talk to anyone about their
roles and we also welcome your attendance at our BOT meetings.

First CommunionThis term there are a number of students who will be making their First Communion on Sunday August 20 at 9.30am. They will be attending sessions each Wednesday in helping to prepare for this. We send prayers to each family in their journey to prepare their child making First Communion. There will be a parent meeting for those involved with First Communion on Monday July 31@ 7pm in the staffroom. Faith Facts

Saints Joachim and Anne

Many of the images of Saint Joachim and Anne, the Mother

of Mary, depict a
loving couple.

The couple early
became models of Christian marriage.

At one time, July 26 was the feast of St.

Anne only, but in
the new calendar the two

feasts of the parents of the Blessed Virgin

Mary are
celebrated together. According

early writings 170, Joachim was a

prominent and
respected man who had no

children. In answer to Anne’s and

Joachim’s prayers,
Mary was born and was dedicated to

God at a very early age.

Icon by Maria Diaz, San Francisco

On Saturday 22nd July it was the Feast
of St Mary Magdalene. Pope Francis in discussingSaint Mary Magdalene said she became “the apostle of
the new and greatest hope.” Her life was changed because she had “seen the
Lord...Mary’s experience is an example for us, too.” If we place Jesus
at the centre of all that we do, Jesus, who is “is our strength, and
our hope,” will change our lives too, Francis said. (General audience, May 2017)